Airport form pin puller



Nov. 13, 1962 M. E. ROBINSON AIRPORT FORM PIN FULLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 22. 1960 INVENTOR. MM mce E. koliysalv Nov. 13, 1962 M. E. ROBINSON AIRPORT FORM PIN FULLER Filed April 22, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENZ'OR. MAM/cc E. Kali V800 A T7'0XIIEXS Nov. 13, 1962 M. E. ROBINSON AIRPORT FORM PIN FULLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 22, 1960 INVENTOR. ,lmvR/Q E. Rod/0M0 BY A T TIKAE Y:

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 M. E. ROBINSON AIRPORT FORM PIN FULLER Nov. 13, 1962 Filed April 22, 1960 INVENTIOR. MAI/RICE E. Koo/use BY I fiwflg WM Nov. 13, 1962 M. E. ROBINSON AIRPORT FORM PIN FULLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 22, 1960 m3 mw NNx INVENTQR. M A U R ICE 5. Roam/so United States Patent Ofilice Patented Nov. 13, 1962 3,063,676 AERPGRT FSRM PW FULLER Maurice E. Robinson, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor to The Cleveland Forrngrader Co., Avon, ()hio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 22, 196i Ser. No. 23,935 6 Qiaims. (Cl. 254-21) This invention relates to improvements in the pin puller art, and more particularly to a new and improved pin puller machine especially adapted for removing pins from airport runway concrete forms. it is common practice when building concrete roads for aircraft runways and the like to pour the concrete between metal forms which are secured in place by a plurality of steel pins or stakes which are driven through suitable holes in the forms. Machines have been provided heretofore for removing the concrete form pins to reduce the time and labor involved in this operation. However, the pin puller machines have heretofore been adapted for use on conventional vehicle roads for use in pulling pins from forms for building such roads. An example of such a vehicle road pin pulling machine is the stake puller machine shown in United States Patent No. 2,928,654. An aircraft runway is formed to a greater thickness as compared to the thickness of a vehicle road and, accordingly, the forms used for making aircraft runways are taller and wider than the forms used when building roads. The pins used in securing aircraft runway concrete forms in place are therefore disposed outwardly a greater distance from the edge of the poured concrete than the corresponding pins for securing ordinary road forms. Stake puller machines of the type disclosed in the aforementioned patent employ a revolving lever structure for removing the form pins, but such structure is not adapted to remove form pins which are disposed outwardly any great distance from the edge of the poured concrete. Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a pin puller machine especially adapted for use in removing aircraft runway concrete forms which are provided with securing pins disposed at a greater distance from the edge of the concrete than those used in ordinary road forms.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved pin puller machine which is especially adapted for airport concrete form pin removal purposes but which is not limited thereto and which is compact and rugged in construction, lightweight, efficient in operation, self-propelled and operable by one person who may ride on the machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel pin puller machine which is powered by a small gasoline engine which is adapted to power an oscillating puller arm that extends outwardly beyond the edge of the poured concrete whereby the arm may be quickly and easily engaged with a pin for removal thereof by means of a suitable grappling member. The pin puller machine of the present invention is also provided with an adjustable support means which rides on the outer edge of the concrete form so as to eliminate any possibility of the machine turning over while pulling pins.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a pin puller machine which is completely mechanical in construction and operation and which includes a four-wheeled truck upon which the operative structure is carried and which truck is adapted to operate with two of the wheels in contact with the inner edge of the concrete form, whereby the pin pulling force is transmitted through said two wheels through the concrete forms to the roadbed.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an airport form pin puller made in accordance with the principles of the invention and showing the machine in an operative position at work on a roadway;

FIG. 2. is a side elevational view of the structure illus trated in FIG. 1, taken in the direction of the arrow marked 2;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken in the direction of the arrow marked 3;

FIG. 4 is a partial top plan view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 3, taken along the line 44 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational sectional View of the structure illustrated in FIG. 4, taken along the line 5-5 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 4, taken along the line 6-6 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, elevational sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 4, taken along the line 77 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, a pin puller machine made in accordance with the principles of the invention is illustrated in operative position on an aircraft runway 10. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2. and 3, the numeral 11 generally designates a concrete runway side form which is illustrative of one of many types used in laying runways and the like. The illustrated form comprises the inner vertical leg portion 12 and the integral horizontal foot portion 13. The form portions 12 and 13 are normally made from steel plates. The outer edge of the foot plate 13 is upturned to form a channel edge having the vertical portion 14 and the horizontal upper portion 15. The form leg and foot portions are strengthened by a plurality of diagonally disposed interconnecting channel braces 16. The upper edge of the vertical leg 12 is formed in the shape of an integral channel, as indicated by the numeral 17. The runway forms are adapted to be secured in place on the roadbed by means of a plurality of pins or stakes 18 which are driven through suitable holes as 19 and 20 in the braces 16 and the foot plate 13, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the pin puller machine of the present invention comprises a wheel supported truck generally indicated by the numeral 21 which includes a substantially rectangularly shaped frame. The truck frame comprises the horizontal transversely disposed front and rear channel rails 22 and 24, respectively, which are interconnected by the longitudinally disposed left side channel rail 23. The frame further includes the longitudinally disposed channel rail 25 which interconnects the front and rear rails 22 and 24 along the right side of the frame. The outer right side of the frame comprises the front and rear longitudinal spaced apart channel rails 27 and 26, respectively, which are interconnected by the horizontal vertically spaced apart angle and plate members 28 and 29, respectively. The longitudinal rail 25 is spaced apart inwardly from the last mentioned rail structure and it is interconnected by a plurality of short transverse channel rails as 25a. The various aforementioned frame elements are fixedly secured together by any suitable means as by Welding.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the left side of the truck 21 is supported by a pair of wheel assemblies generally indicated by the numerals 30 and 31. The wheel assentbly '30 comprises the longitudinally spaced wheel 32 which is rotatably mounted on the axle 33 operatively carried by the vertically spaced apart plates 34. The upper ends of the plates 34 are integrally connected by the horizontal plate 35 which is rotatably supported by the horizontal plate 36 by means of the bolt 37. The plate 36 is fixedly secured to the longitudinal channel rail 23 by any suitable means as by welding. The horizontal plate 35 has an outward horizontal extension 38. The wheel assembly 31 is constructed in the same manner asthe wheel assembly 30 and the corresponding parts 'are marked with similar reference numerals followed by means of the steering lever 41, which has the outer end thereof hingedly connected to the arm 40 by means of the bolt 42. The'steering lever 41 extends through the horizontal slot 43 in the vertical plate 44 which is fixedly secured to the channel rail 23 as by Welding. The slot 43 is wider than the lever 41 to permit sideward movement therein. Extended inwardly from the vertical plate 44 is the horizontal .arm 45 to the inner end of which is hingedly connected, at the central point thereon, the steering lever 41 by means of the bolt 46. It will be seen that the operator may turn the wheels 32 and 32a about their mounting bolts 37 and 37a by moving the lever 41 forwardly or backwardly to pivot it about the bolt 46 which in turn moves the arm 40* forwardly or backwardly. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the operator may ride on the machine by means of the seat 49 which is secured to the rear end of the truck 21 by means of the channel bars 48 and 49.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the right side of the truck 21 is supported by the front and rear wheels 50 and 51 which are adapted to ride on the channel 17 which forms the upper end of the form leg 12. The wheel 50 is 'rotatably mounted on the horizontal axle 52 which is fixedly secured by any suitable means to the longitudinal outer channel member 27. The wheel is retained on the shaft 52 by any suitable means, as by the cotter key 53. The right rear wheel 51 is the drive wheel .and is fixedly secured to the transverse horizontal drive shaft 54 by any suitable means, as by the lock screws 55. The shaft '54 is suitably journalled in the bearings 56 and 57 which are operatively mounted in the channels 25 and 26. The truck wheels 32, 32a, 50 and 51 are preferably providedwith rubber tires.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the power means for the pin puller machine comprises an engine, generally indi- 'cated by the numeral 58, which is preferably a nine horsepower, four cycle gasoline engine, and engines of this type are readily available on. the market. The engine "58 is fixedly mounted on the front end of the truck by any suitable means and includes the output shaft 59 on which is fixedly mounted, by any suitable means, the

drive sprocket 60. The sprocket 60 drives the roller chain 61 which is meshably engaged with and drives the driven sprocket 62 which is fixedly mounted on the longitudinally disposed shaft 63. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the shaft 63 is rotatably mounted in the bearing members 64, 65, and 66 which are fixedly mounted on the vertical transverse plates 67, 68 and 69, respectively. The plates 67, 68 and 69 are longitudinally spaced apart and are fixedly mounted on the truck frame by any suitable means as by welding. As shown in FIG. 7, the

rear end of the shaft 63 extends through the plate 67 and has fixedly mounted thereon the pulley wheel 70.

'As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pulley wheel 70 drives the belt 71 which in turn drives the pulley wheel 72 which is fixedly mounted on the gear reducer input shaft 73. The gear reducer is indicated in FIG. 4 by the numeral 74 and is fixedly mounted on the longitudinal frame plate 75 by any suitable means, as by the screws 76.

The gear reducer output shaft 77 has fixedly mounted thereon a drive sprocket '78'for driving the roller chain 79 which in turn drives the spocket 80 fixedly mounted on the input shaft 81 of the transmission 82. The transmission 82 is fixedly mounted on the plate 75 by any suitable means, as by the bolts 83. The clutch output shaft 84- carries a fixedly mounted sprocket 85 which drives the roller chain 86 which in turn drives the sprocket 37 mounted on the inner end of the drive wheel shaft 54. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the transmission 82 is adapted to be operated by means of the control lever 83. The transmission 82 may he of any conventional type adapted to provide a forward, neutral, and reverse action in the aforementioned power drive system. The gear reducer 74 may also be of any conventional type. It will be seen from the aforedescribed drive systern that the operator may sit on the seat 49 and control the self-propelled drive system of the pin puller machine. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the shaft 63 is adapted to be disconnected from the driving sprocket 62 by means of a suitable clutch generally indicated by the numeral 89. The clutch 89 is adapted to be operated by the lever 9%. It will be seen that the drive shaft 63 may be disconnected from the engine 58 during starting operations and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the pin puller machine is provided with a pair of form guide rollers, generally indicated by the numerals 92 and 93, which are adapted to roll against the outer side of the flange 17. When operating the pin puller machine, the operator toes the left wheels 32 and 32a outwardly slightly so that the rollers 92 and 93 ride against the edge of the flange 17. As shown in FIG. 2, the roller 92 comprises the vertical cylindrical tube 94 which is fixedly mounted to the truck by any suitable means, as by welding, at the right rear corner of the truck. Adjustably mounted through the tube 94 is the threaded rod 95. The rod 95 is held in any adjusted vertical position in the tube 94 by the nuts 96 and 97. Suitably rotatably mounted on the lower end of the rod 95 is the roller 98 which engages the outer face of the flange 17. The roller member 93 is constructed similarly to roller 92 and the corresponding parts thereof are marked with similar reference numerals followed by the small letter a. The roller member 93 is fixedly mounted on the truck 21 at the front right corner thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the means for pulling the pins 18 comprises a transversely disposed puller arm 99 which is formed from an elongated bar which is T- shaped in cross section. The arm 99 is pivotally mounted at a substantially central point thereof on the longitudinally horizontally disposed shaft 100 which is carried between the vertical plates 101 and 102. The plates 101 and 102 are longitudinally spaced apart and are fixedly secured to the truck 21 by any suitable means. As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of pin grappling brackets 103 and 104 are suspended from the outer end of the puller arm 99 so as to overlay the form pins 13. As shown in FIG. 3, the puller arm 99 extends outwardly of the cement 10and over the runway form 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, the grappling bracket includes the horizontal plate 106 which is integral with the vertical arm 105. Plate 106 has a U-shaped slot 107 extending inwardly from the outer side thereof for reception of a form pin 18. The vertical arm is hingedly connected by the pin 108 to a suitable cable 109. The upper end of the cable 109 is hingedly connected by the bolt 110 to the lower end of the lever 111, the upper end of which is pivotally connected by the bolt 112 to the vertical portion of the puller arm 99. It will be seen that the aforedescribed structure provides a pin grappling means which is swingably connected to the outer end of the puller arm 99. The bolt 112 may be mounted in any one of the holes 113, as desired, to suit the location of the pins 18 in the forms 11. The outer grappling means carrying the bracket 104 is marked with similar reference numerals followed by the small letter a.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a positioning rod as 115 and 116 is hingedly connected to the brackets 103 and 104, respectively, by means of the bolts 117 and 118. The rods 115 and 116 enable the operator to sit on the seat 49 and engage the brackets 103 and 104 with the pins 18. It will be seen that when the puller arm 99 is pivoted in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, it will assume the broken line position indicated by the numeral 114, whereby the brackets 103 and 104 will be moved upwardly to remove the pins 18 which have been engaged by these brackets when the puller arm was in the solid line position shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the inner end of the puller arm 99 is provided with a longitudinally extended slot 119 in which is slidably received the pm 120 which is fixedly mounted on the large sprocket wheel 121. The sprocket wheel 121 is fixedly mounted on the rear end 122 of the longitudinally disposed horizontal shaft 123. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the shaft 123 is suitably rotatably journalled in the bearing members 124 and 125 which are carried by the vertical plates 67 and 68. The sprocket wheel 121 is driven by the roller chain 126 which is in turn driven by the small sprocket 127 which is fixedly mounted on the output shaft 128 of the single revolution clutch generally designated by the numeral 129. The clutch 129 may be of any conventional type as, for example, the type described in detail in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,928,654 to N. P. Dann et al. The clutch 129 is adapted to be operated by the lever 135 which is pivotally mounted on the bolt 136. The inner end of the lever 135 is operatively connected to the rod 137 for operating the clutch 129.

As shown in FIG. 6, the clutch 129 is provided with an input shaft 130 and the clutch shafts 128 and 130 are suitably journalled in the bearing members 131 carried by the vertical plates 67 and 68. Operatively connected to the clutch input shaft 130 is the drive gear 132 which is in turn driven by the idler gear 133. As shown in FIG. 7, the idler gear 133 is fixedly connected to the rear end of the pulley shaft 134 which is suitably journalled between the vertical plates 68 and 69. Fixedly mounted on the shaft 134 is the large pulley which is driven by a plurality of V-belts '139. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the belts 139 are driven by the pulley 140 which is fixedly mounted on the shaft 63 which is driven by the engine 85 in the manner previously described.

As shown in FIG. 5, the pin puller machine may be provided with a belt take-up roller 141 adjustably carried by the bolt 142. The bolt 142 is adjustably mounted onthe angle bar 143 which is extended between the vertical plates 68 and 69 by any suitable means as by welding.

When the operator wishes to remove a pair of pins 18 from the form 11, he first engages the brackets 103 and 104 on the upper ends of the pins. Assuming that the engine 58 is operating, the operator then pivots the clutch lever 135 to operate the clutch 129 whereby the sprocket wheel 121 will make one complete revolution and will move the puller arm 99 to the up position 114 and then downwardly to the solid line position shown in FIG. 3, where it is ready for another pin pulling operation. It will be seen that the pin puller machine is designed so that a single operator can sit in the seat 49 and operate the pin pulling means with his right hand and operate the drive means for the machine with his left hand. The engine 58 is set at a constant speed and the pin pulling action is initiated by operating the clutch arm 135 in the aforedescribed manner. It will be seen that the pin pulling pressure is directed downwardly through the right side wheels 50 and 51 onto the form flanges 17. The machine of the present invention is provided with an adjustable supporting means, generally indicated by the numeral 144, which rides on the outer channel space edge of the form plate 13 to eliminate any possibility of the machine turning over while pulling the pins 18. The adjustable support comprises the horizontal channel 145 which extends outwardly from the right side of the truck 21 and which is fixedly secured thereto by any suitable means as by welding. A vertical rod 146 is fixedly secured to a vertical plate 147 which slidably engages the front side of the channel rail 145. The plate 147 is adapted to be fixedly secured to the rail 145 by means of the bracket member 148 and the bolts 149. Fixedly mounted in the lower end of the rod 146 is a sliding guide member comprising the horizontal plate 150 and the vertical plate 151 which are adapted to slidably engage the form portions 15 and 14, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the roller guide members 92 and 93 are preferably fixedly mounted on the arms 91 and 91a, respectively, which are in turn fixedly secured to thetrucks by any suitable means. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the transmission drive chain 79 is adapted to be tightened, as desired, by means of the idler sprocket 152 which is adjustably mounted on the bracket 153.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. A pin puller machine for pulling pins from a concrete form comprising: a wheel supported truck; an engine mounted on said truck; a transversely disposed puller arm rockably mounted on said truck and having an outer and inner end, the outer end thereof extended sidewardly outwardly beyond one side of said truck; a pin grappling means adjustably mounted on the outer end of said puller arm; drive means mounted on said truck and being connected to the inner end of said puller arm for providing a rocking motion to said arm to move the outer thereof upwardly and downwardly; a power system interconnecting said engine and drive means for transmitting power from the engine to said drive means; an

adjustable supporting means mounted on said truck and extended sidewardly outwardly for sliding engagement with the concrete form to prevent tipping of the machine during a pin pulling operation; said wheel supported truck being provided with a pair of wheels on a first side thereof adapted to ride on the concrete form and a pair of turnable wheel on a second side thereof adapted to ride on the concrete; steering means connected to said turnable wheels for turning the same to guide the truck to position the grappling means over the pins in a concrete form for pin pulling operations; at least one of said wheels being a power traction wheel for moving the machine; and, drive means connecting said power traction wheel to said power system.

2. A pin puller machine as defined in claim 1, including a pair of guide rollers adjustably mounted on said truck and adapted to ride against the concrete form outer edge for guiding the machine along the concrete form.

3. A pin puller machine for pulling pins from a concrete form comprising: a wheel supported truck; an engine mounted on said truck; a transversely disposed puller arm rockably mounted on said truck and having an outer and inner end, the outer end thereof extended sidewardly beyond one side of said truck; a pin grappling means adjustably mounted on the outer end of said puller arm; drive means mounted on said truck and being connected to the inner end of said puller arm for providing a rocking motion to said arm to move the outer end thereof upwardly and downwardly; a drive shaft mounted on said truck; means including a disconnect clutch interconnecting said engine and said shaft for transmitting power to the shaft; said drive shaft being interconnected to the drive means .for rocking said puller arm by means including a belt drive mechanism and a single revolution clutch;

and, means for adjusting the tension of the belts in said .belt drive mechanism.

said wheel supported truck is provided with a pair of Wheels on a first side thereof adapted to ride on the concrete form and a pair of turnable wheels on a second side thereof adapted to ride on the concrete; steering means are connected to said turnable wheels for turning the same to guide the truckto position the grappling means over the pins in a concrete form for pin pulling operations; at least one of said Wheels being a power traction wheel for moving the machine; and, drive means including a clutch connecting said drive shaft to said power traction wheel.

5. A pin puller machine as defined in claim 3, including an adjustable supporting means mounted on said truck and-extended sidewaIdly-outwardly for sliding engagement with the concrete "form to prevent tipping of the machine during a pin pulling-"operation.

6. A pin puller machine as defined in claim 4, including a pair of guide rollers adjustably mounted on said truck and adapted to ride against the concrete form outer edge for guiding the machine along the concrete form.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,821,360 Marshall Jan. 28, 1958 2,911,190 Creason Nov. 3, 1959 2,928,654 Dann et a1 "Mar. 15, 1960 

